Well then if one were to lighten one up a lot the WL would come up far enough so it would actually be very close to a FD hulled boat.

A light engine (or engines) like a Yanmar or similar w a deep reduction along w a significant reduction in tankage and other heavy stuff could reduce her displacement significantly. Her motion would quicken up quite a bit but she may not be as wet any more. Seems to me it would be a better boat if one wanted slow and fuel efficient.

Actually if I had the time and money I'd be tempted to build an 18 or 20' version for a SD OB boat.

Well then if one were to lighten one up a lot the WL would come up far enough so it would actually be very close to a FD hulled boat.

A light engine (or engines) like a Yanmar or similar w a deep reduction along w a significant reduction in tankage and other heavy stuff could reduce her displacement significantly. Her motion would quicken up quite a bit but she may not be as wet any more. Seems to me it would be a better boat if one wanted slow and fuel efficient.

Actually if I had the time and money I'd be tempted to build an 18 or 20' version for a SD OB boat.

Eric - Way we work it... Just for S&G's

Wife and I greatly enjoy going slow (5.5 to 6 knots) in our Tolly to where we anchor; getting approx. 2.5 mpg. Where we throw the hook for long R&R weekends. Then we often get into our semi enclosed (canvas top buttoned to windshield) 4 comfortable seat, 14'8", tow behind, fiberglass Crestliner runabout with 50 hp Johnson and we tool around SF Delta at some 20 to 25 mph getting approx. 20 mpg. If we want to go faster she'll hit 35 easy with two and full tanks (12 gal gas); with just pilot and GPS I clocked her at 39 + mph. I imagine at high throttle she's probably getting considerably lower mpg.

Nice . These are the ones that touch the heart and soul .I must have been born to late . It must have been something to work along side with those shipwrights in the day .Perfect timing when I logged in this morning with my coffee sitting on the boat . Thanks for posting .

Al,
I've been aboard the MV Wells Grey in Ketchikan and one other of the type in Thomas Basin. They were having an open house (boat) at the float by the Federal bldg.

I photographed the Chugach in Craig anchored out. Put the camera on a railing and on long telephoto. Worked OK. The Chugach is a newer and bigger boat than the Wells Grey. She has a "stack" that is full of the proper stuff (excluding propane bottles) and a cooking stove stack taller than any that I've seen. Probably made taller until the stove behaved itself .. draft wise. How they keep it standing up is beyond me.